WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) - A suspect hit and wounded by police gunfire late Wednesday has been charged with felony assault on a police officer and carrying a handgun.

The suspect is identified as 27-year-old Mark Vanderhall of Suitland, Md.

The confrontation with police that resulted in Vanderhall's shooting happened in the rear alley of the 400 block of Kenyon Street, NW. at about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to a police press release.

Plainclothes police officers in the Third District's Crime Suppression Unit, were patrolling in the vicinity of Georgia Avenue and Kenyon Street, NW when they encountered Vanderhall, who police say appeared to have a weapon. Vanderhall ran east on Kenyon Street, police said.

The police officers pursued him into an alley in the 400 block of Kenyon Street, NW. The suspect then pulled out a .380 caliber handgun, and pointed it at one of the police officers, according to a police report. An officer fired his service weapon striking the suspect. The suspect was placed under arrest without further incident.

No police officers were injured in this incident. The Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Division is conducting the investigation.

Vanderhall's family say they believe he did not know the plainclothes officers were police.